Pressure actuated circuit maker and breaker



July 23, 1957 GUTHRlE 2,800,549

PRESSURE ACTUATED CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Filed Jan. 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 George G. 6uf/Jr/e 1N VEN TOR.

July 23, 1957 G. G. GUTHRIE 2,800,549

PRESSURE ACTUATED CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Filed Jan. 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 George 6. Ga zbr/e I N V EN TOR.

Unimd P ent 7 PRESSURE ACTUATED CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER George G. Guthrie, Tulsa, Okla., assignor to Century Geophysical Corporation, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Application January 6, 1953, Serial No. 329,893

7 Claims. (Cl, 200-83) The invention relates to a circuit maker and breaker,

, 2,800,549 Patented July 23, 1957 ICC member 1, by means of screws 3, is a block 4, and interposed between the base 1 and block 4 is a pressure actuated diaphragm 5. Threaded into the upper slde of f the block 4, at 6 is a plug 7, in which plug the stem 8 pressure actuated, and has for its object to provide means for varying the amount of pressure necessary to actuate the snap switch by a transverse adjustment of, the snap switch, and an actuating arm carried by the snap switch structure, and with which a diaphragm control plunger cooperates. p

A further object is to provide means whereby the snap switch and supporting structure may be adjusted towards or away fromthe plunger, or transversely in relation to the axis of the plunger.

A further object is to provide'a casing for the circuit maker and breaker comprising an inner shell having opposite access openings, and-an outer shell telescopically engaged over the inner shell, and means carried by the upper end of the inner shell and cooperating with the upper end of the outer shell for holding the outer shell against axial displacement. The device is particularly adapted for use with pressure actuated switches for signalling, electrically, pressure variations in liquid or air lines.

A further object is to provide an expansion spring around the plunger, which spring is varied in pressure on the plunger by an adjustable plug, and means for preventing rotation of said plug after it is once adjusted.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the pressure actuated circuit maker and breaker and casing therefor. 1

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the device with the inner and outer shells removed.

Figure 4 is a view similar to view figure, but viewing the device from another angle.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the pressure actuated circuit maker and breaker.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the enclosed circuit makerand breaker.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the outer shell removed.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the device.

Devices of this general character are used in connection with aircraft, however heretofore constructed access could not be had to the interior as they were entirely enclosed, permanently, and all repairs were made in shops. Even when removed from position damage is often caused to the terminals incident to the prying removal of the cannon lug at the top of the casing.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a base member into which air or fluid conducting pipe is screwed at 2. Secured on the upper side of the base of the diaphragm plunger 9 is slidably mounted.

Surrounding the stem 8 and interposed between the threaded plug 7 and the plunger 9 is a spring 10, which spring may be tensioned and regulated in accordance with the pressure to be maintained.

Mounted on the upper side of the block 4 is a vertical bracket 11 having slotted ears 12 resting on the upper side'of the block 4, and extending through said ears are adjusting screws 13 so the bracket 11 can be adjusted inwardly or outwardly in relation to the axis of the plunger 9 and stem 8, the purpose of which will presently appear. Secured to the inner side of the bracket 11, by means of screws 14, is a U-shaped bracket 15 which supports the flexible circuit maker and breaker members 16 and 17. Wires are adapted to be connected to the inner ends of the members 16 and 17 as at 18 for controlling a signal at a remote position. The U-shaped bracket 15 is preferably formed from insulating material, and the screws 14 extend through a vertically elongated opening 19 in the bracket 11, hence it will be seen that the member 15 may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly in relation to the stem 8. Threaded at 20 through the bracket 11 is an adjusting screw 21, the end of which is adapted to be received in one of the lock slots 22 in the periphery of the plug 7 for locking said plug against rotation after the tension adjustment of the spring 10. The outer end of the circuit maker and breaker member 17 plays between the members 16 and is of a snap type through the medium of the arcuate member 23 carried by the angular spring arm 24 anchored within the member 15.

Anchored at 25 to the U-shaped member 15, below the circuit maker and breaker is a lever 26 of the spring arm type, and this lever overlies the upper end of the plunger stem 8, as shown in Figure 5. It will be seen, by adjusting the vertical bracket 10 inwardly or outwardly in relation to the axis of the plunger that the pressure actuation of the circuit maker and breaker may be regulated in favor of the pressure on the plunger or against the same, a fine adjustment will be obtained for signalling operation and indicating an. excessively high or low pressure.

The leads from the terminals 18 pass upwardly and are connected to terminals 27 in the cannon plug 28, which cannon plug is carried by the upper end of the device.

In conventional devices now constructed, the circuit maker and breaker is constructed generally as shown in Figures 1 2 and 3, however access can not be had to the interior for repair and adjustment purposes, and to overcome this difficulty applicants device comprises an inner shell 29 having a closed upper end 30 to which the cannon plug 28 is anchored. Opposite sides of the inner shell 29 are provided with vertically elongated openings 31, through which openings access can be had to the circuit maker and breaker and the various adjusting screws for adjusting the device. Telescopically engaging over the inner shell 29 is an outer shell 32, which may be axially removed from the device or placed thereon. The lower ends of both shells are seated in an annular channel 33 in the block 4, and the upper end of the outer shell 32 terminates in the plane of the upper end of the inner shell, as shown in Figure 6. The outer shell 32 is held against upward displacement by pivoted latches 34 held on the upper end of the inner shell by screws 35. The latches 34 may be swung outwardly or inwardly as shown in Figure 8, and if desired may be sealed against easy displacement, however set screws will answer the purpose.

easily repaired when in a pipe line without breaking any 7 connection or removing the device from its position.

The invention having. been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A pressure actuated circuit maker and breaker, comprising a supporting base, an axially movable pressure actuated plunger mounted in the base and upstanding v,

therefrom, adjustable plunger control means controlling the reaction of the plunger in its axial movement in accordance with a pressure to be maintained, a bracket member mounted on the base and upstanding therefrom parallel to the plunger, means mounting the bracket on the base for bodily movement radially towardand away from the axis of the plunger, means carried by the bracket and engageable with the adjustable plunger control means to maintain such means in a selected position of adjustment and for moving the bracket on such mounting means and for holding the bracket fixed in adjusted positions relative to the plunger, an arm pivotally carried by the bracket and transversely overlying and contacting the plunger, said arm being movable away from the base about its pivot under urging by the plunger and being adjusted relative to the plunger by movement of the bracket so that the amount of force of the plunger to move the arm is adjustable, a snap switch carried by the bracket and overlying the arm and actuated by the upward movement thereof and contacts controlled by the snap switch.

2. A pressure actuated circuit maker and breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustable plunger control means includes said base having a threaded opening, an externally threaded sleeve in said opening and having an axial bore through which the plunger is slidable, an internal shoulder on the sleeve, a shoulder on the plunger and a spring surrounding the plunger and bearing between the shoulders to oppose the pressure actuated movement of the plunger, the tension of said spring being adjusted by rotation of the sleeve so as to control the movement of the plunger.

3. A pressure actuated circuit maker and breaker as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sleeve has a portion protruding above the base and having a radial recess and said means for moving the bracket includes a screw threaded through the bracket and having an inner end seated in said recess to prevent rotation of the sleeve.

4. A pressure actuated circuit maker and breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes a lateral mounting flange on the bracket superimposed on the base and having a slot and a guide member upstanding from the base and disposed in said slot to retain the flange in guided movement.

5. A pressure actuated circuit maker and breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arm is pivoted at one end to the bracket for vertical swinging movement and has a free end abutting the snap switch, said arm being movable over the plunger to position the plunger at desired points between its ends.

6. A pressure actuated circuit maker and breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner shell is seated on the base and has a side wall enclosing the bracket, contacts, snap switch, arm and plunger and has a closed end opposed to the base, said side wall having openings through which access may be had to such elements for adjustment purposes, an outer shell circumposed on the inner shell and completely enclosing the side wall and seated on the base, locking elements rotatably mounted on the closed end of the inner shell and engaging the end of the outer shell to lock it in place.

7. The combination with a pressure actuated circuit maker and breaker, said circuit maker and breaker being supported on a base, of a casing for said circuit maker and breaker, said base having an annular channel and said casing comprising an inner shell having an opened end seated in said channel and a closed end opposed to the base, the inner shell having a side wall enclosing the circuit maker and breaker and formed with opposing openings through which access may be had to the circuit maker and breaker for adjustment purposes, a sleeve circumposed on the inner shell and completely enclosing the side wall thereof and having an open end seated in the annular channel in the base and an opposed open end terminating in the plane of the closed end of the inner shell, latch members rotatably carried by the closed end of the inner shell and mounted on the outer surface thereof and adapted to be moved from an inner position entirely within the area of the closed end to an outer position overlying the end of the sleeve to lock the sleeve in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,271,220 Quinn July 2, 1918 1,511,502 Cantwell Oct. 14, 1924 2,028,196 DuBrie Jan. 21, 1936 2,033,417 Dezotell Mar. 10, 1936 2,338,365 Thorpe et a1. Jan. 4, 1944 2,404,843 Huber July 30, 1946 2,405,142 Holt Aug. 6, 1946 2,411,577 Leslie Nov. 26, 1946 2,432,312 Hasselhorn Dec. 9, 1947 2,435,143 Knauth Jan. 27, 1948 2,468,974 Hammer May 3, 1949 2,500,457 Hess Mar. 14, 1950 2,521,887 Wihanto Sept. 12, 1950 2,562,385 Marcellus July 31, 1951 2,594,447 Kerr Apr. 29, 1952 

